Electroresponsive device



Jan. 28, 1936. H M STEVENS 2,029,137

ELECTRORESPONSIVE DEVICE Original Filed OCT.. 4, 1935 Fig. l. Fig l, Fi@5.

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Y 55 5" Inventor: Han-g M. Stevens, crieceased,A bg Emmazean Stevens,Executrix Patented Jan. 1936 ELECTROBESPONSIVE DEVICE Harry M. Stevens,deceased, late of Schenectady,

N. Y., by Emmazean Stevens, executrix, Schenectady, N. Y., assignor toGeneral Electric Company, a corporation of New York.

Original application October 4, 1933, Serial No.

692,112. 1935, Serial N0. 19,633

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electroresponsive devices andparticularly relays which have a time action based on the flow of afluid and which are adapted to a variety of 5 functions.v Moreparticularly the invention re- Ais lates to improvements in relays ofthe type disclosed in United States Letters Patent 1,532,003, issuedMarch 31, 1925. One object of the invention is to provide an improvedand simple unitary relay structure such that by a simple rearrangementof only a few of its parts the relay can function, when its drop-outoccurs, either to leave its contacts in the circuit controlling positioneffected by the pick-up operation or automatically to restore itscontacts to the circuit controlling position existing before the pick-upoperation.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 692,112, iiledOctober 4, 1933, for a Time element device.

The invention will be better understood from the following descriptionwhen considered in connection with the accompanying drawing and itsscope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view,partly in side elevation, of a relay embodying the invention with thecontact controlling mechanism in one circuit con. trolling position;Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the relay shown in Fig. 1 with the coverremoved; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the relay shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4is a part side elevation similar to Fig. 1 showing the contactcontrolling mechanism in another circuit controlling position; Fig. 5 isa sectional elevation on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3 showing the timingmechanism arranged for time delay pick-up and instantaneous drop-out;Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 of a part of the timingmechanism arranged for instantaneous pick-up and time delay drop-out;Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 of a part of the timingmechanism arranged for time delay pickup and time delay drop-out; Fig. 8is a top plan view of the control valve compartments of the timingmechanism; Fig. 9 is a perspective view looking into the coverfor thecontrol valve compartments; and Figs. 10 and 11 show respectively inelevation and perspective details oi'structural parts whereby the relaycan be arranged for either manual reset or automatic reset.

In order to illustrate the invention, there is shown a relay having atime element mechanism oi the type wherein a fluid containing chamberI5of variable volume is provided with means in- Divided and thisapplication May 3,

cluding an electromagnet I6 for changing its volume. The chamber I5 isillustrated as of the bellows type wherein a flexible elem'ent orbellows I'I of any suitable material is secured to and between a supportor head I8 and a disk I9 movable into the hollow of the head to collapsethe bellows. The disk I9 is connected to the moving element or armature20 of the electromagnet through an energy storing means illustrated asincluding a tubular member or sleeve 2l secured to the disk by a stem22, an operating rod 23 adjustably positioned with respect to thearmature 20 and provided with an enlarged end or plunger 24 within thelower end of the sleeve 2| and a spring 25 within the sleeve and betweenthe stem 22 and the plunger 24. While, in so far as the invention isconcerned, any suitable fluid may be used in the chamber l5, obviouslyair will be the more usual and convenient.

In order to control the time action of the relay, the chamber I5 isprovided with a restricted passage for the admission and emission offluid at a predetermined rate. This passage includes a timing valve 2Shaving a channel 21 of tapering cross-section extending between a, port28 into the chamber I5 and a port 29 into the air outside. In order tovary the extent of the opening between these ports and thus the timeaction of the relay, the valve 26 is preferably adjustably positioned onits seat on the head I8. For this purpose, it may be held in position bysuitable means; such as a leaf spring 30.

The chamber I5 is provided with a relatively unrestricted passage andvalve means for so controlling the ow of fluid in this passage thatthere may be a free flow of fluid either from or to the chamber or noflow at all. This unrestricted passage includes a port 3l into thechamber I5 and a port 32 into the air. Each of these ,ports terminatesin adjoining valve compartments provided with valve seats 33 and a valvecover 34 which has a channel 35 to interconnect the two valvecompartments under certain desired conditions, as shown in Figs. 5 and6. 'I'he valve means further includes a valve or poppet 36 which may beplaced on the valve seat in either compartment according to the actiondesired. In order that the position of the valve may be readily changed,the valve cover 34 is preferably removably positioned on thev head I8.For this purpose it may be held in place by a leaf spring 31 in a mannersimilar to the arrangement used for the timing valve 26.

Assuming that it is desired to have the relay operate with a time delaypick-up and instantaneous drop-out, then the parts will be positioned asshown in Fig. 5. Now, if the relay is sufficiently energized to pick upits armature 20, the spring 25 will be compressed and the energy storedtherein gradually released to force the disk i9 into the head i8 andthereby collapse the bellows il. Under these conditions no air will beable to escape through the unrestricted passage because the valve 36will be forced against the seat in its compartment. Consequently, theair has to escape through the timing valve 26 at a rate dependent uponthe setting thereof.

Assuming now that it is desired to have a relay with aninstantaneouspick-up and a time delay drop-out, then the valve cover 3Q will be re-.moved and the valve 36 shifted to the valve seat in the othercompartment, as shown in Fig. 6. The valve cover 3d is then replacedwith its channel 35 again extending between the valve compartments. Now,when the electromagnet i6 is energized suiciently to pick up itsarmature 20, air can escape freely through the'valve 36 and there willbe no time delay action in the collapsing of the bellows. However, upondeenergization of the electromagnet i6 the expansion of the bellows willhold the valve 36 closely down on its seat thereby preventing anyemission of air through the unrestricted passage. Consequently, whateverair enters the bellows will have tocome through the timing valve 26andthe drop-out time of the relay will be dependent upon `a time delaypick-up and a time delay drop-out,

then the valve 36 is left on the valve seat in the right-hand valvecompartment, as shown in Fig. 7. In this case, however, the valve cover34. is turned in a direction such that its channel 35 does not connectthe valve compartments. For an added safety feature to make sure thatthe valve is securely held on its seat, the valve cover may be provided.with a lug 38so positioned as to abut the upper side of the valve 36when the channel 35 extends transversely of a line joining the valvecompartments. Underthese conditions, when the electromagnet I6 issuiciently energized to attract its armature 26, the valve 36 does notpermit the escape of any air from the bellows. Consequently, all airmust escape through the timing valve 26 with a time action dependentupon the setting ofthis valve. Also when the electromagnet i6 issumciently deenergized for its armature to drop, no air can enterthrough the valve 36. All air, therefore, must enter through the timingvalve 26 so that the drop-out is dependent upon the setting of thisvalve. The head i8 may be provided with a pocket 39 to receive-the lug38 when the valve cover is positioned as shown in Figs. and 6.

'The up and down movements of the armature 2@ eect circuit controllingactions of contacts s which-may be circuit closing on the upwardmovement and circuit opening on the downward movement and vice versa ora combination of both. Thus, as shown in Fig. 2, a movable circuitcontrolling member @lil is provided with bridging il@ by the movement ofthe armature there is provided a collapsible mechanism shown as ofthetoggle type. One arm of this mechanism may be formed by two spacedsubstantially parallel links 35, which are pivoted at d6 to the memberi0 above its pivotal support 51. The free ends of the links d5 .carry aroller i8 which engages an abutment 59 at such an angle as to hold themechanism rigid. Overtravel or the links d5 beyond the reset or rigidcondition position is prevented by a shelf 5G on which the roller d8rests. Upward movement of the roller il@ is arranged to move the target5l clockwise into the position shown in Fig. 4 where it is visiblethrough the window 52 of the relay case 53 to show an operation of therelay. The target and the circuit controlling member llmay be ret to theposition shown in Fig. 1 by a manually operated push rod 513. I

For collapsing the contact operating toggle mechanism to effect movementof the contact controlling member di), there is provided one or moreprojections 55 on the sleeve 2i and preferably the sleeve is arrangedintermediate the links d5 so that these projections will engage thelinks in the upward movement of the sleeve.

In accordance with the invention, the sleeve 2l is provided with one ormore projections 56 extending transversely of the links d5 in oneposition of the sleeve so as to engage the links on downward movement ofthe sleeve whereby to reset the collapsible mechanism and restore thecontacts to their initial circuit controlling position. Furtheninaccordance with the invention,

the sleeve 2l is so arranged that it can readily be turned in adirection transverse to its longitudinal movement to vpermit the sleeveprojections 5l to pass by the links 45 Without any resetting action. Forthis purpose and in order to simplify the assembly of the relay and alsothe changeover, the sleeve 2| may be made as a split,

sleeve having two parts 21| and 2l, as shown in Fig. 1l. The right halfA2|" slips into the base of the left half 2i where it is locked aroundthe operating rod plunger 26 by the ange 5l. In order to preventundesired rotation and longitudinal movement of the sleeve relatively tothe other parts, both. halves of the sleeve have recessed portionst and59 for engaging projections 60, 6l on the disk stem 22 which is suitablysecured to the disk i9. The two halves of the sleeve may be maintainedin the assembled condition by any suitable means such as a spring lockring 62( as shown in Figs. land 2. l

In the illustrated embodiment of the inven tion, the sleeve projections56 are shown'as extending in the path of movement of the links 135 sothat the relay is arranged for automatic reset.V To'change to manualreset, thespring wire clip 62 is removed and the two halves 2i and 2|"of the sleeve separated and turned.- 90 so that the projections 56 areno longer in the path of movement of the links 45. They are then puttogether and locked by the clip 62. In other words, they are now in amsition where the pro jections 56 are between the links d5 so that'on-The invention has been explained by illustrating and describing acertain embodiment thereof, but it will be readily understood by thoseskilled in the art that it may be embodied `in other forms than thatshown and described. The invention should, therefore, not be' restrictedto the particular form of construction disclosed herein by way ofexample( for the purpose oi setting forth the invention in accordance.with the patent statutes.. The terms of the appended claims are,therefore not restricted to the precise structure disclosed, but areintended to cover all changes and modications within the true spirit andscope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by LettersPatent of theUnited States is:

l. A relay comprising relatively movable cooperating contacts, actuatingmeans therefor including a collapsible mechanism, means for maintainingsaid mechanism rigid to hold said contacts in one position, means forcollapsing said mechanism including a movable operating member, aprojection on said operating member extending in the path of movement ofsaid mechanism and engageable therewith on longitudinal movement of theoperating member in one,v di-v rection while the mechanism is collapsedto restore it to the rigid condition, said operating member beingrotatable to aposition such that said-projection is' out of the'path-ofmovement of said mechanism whereby longitudinal movement of theoperating member in said direction while .the mechanism is collapsed isineiectivel to reset the mechanism.

2. Av relay comprising relatively movable cooperating contacts,actuating means therefor including a toggle mechanism, means forcollapsingl anism is collapsed is ineiective to reset the` togglemechanism.

3. A relay comprising relatively movable cooperating contacts, actuatingmeans therefor including a toggle one arm of which comprises two spacedmembers, means for collapsing said toggle including a movable operatingmember and a rotatably mounted split sleeve associated therewith andmovable between said toggle members, projections on said sleeveextending transversely of said toggle members 4in one position of thesleeve and engageable with said toggle members on longitudinal movementof the sleeve in one direction while the toggle is collapsed to resetthe toggle, saidA sleeve being rotatable to a position suchthat saidprojections can pass between said toggle members whereby longitudinalmovement of the sleeve in said one direction when the toggle iscollapsed is ineffective to reset the toggle.

4. A relay comprising a movable contact and actuating meanstherefor-including a movable operating member for eilecting a givenmovement of said contact when said member is moved in one direction, asegmental tubular member embracing said operating membermovabletherewith and' rotatable relatively thereto-and a projection on saidtubular member operative in one position of the tubular member to etlecta different movement of said contact when the operating member is movedin the opposite direction and in another position of the tubular memberto effect no lmovement of the contact when the operating member is movedin said opposite direction. A

5. A relay comprising a movable contact and actuating means thereforincluding a movable operating member for effecting a given movement

